Central Coast Mariners have secured second spot on the A-League ladder with a shocking show at Coopers Stadium towards a shell-shocked Adelaide United.
Inspired by an outstanding brace from Brazilian attacker Marco Tulio, the Mariners received 4-1 on Friday evening to make sure that they, and never Adelaide or the Western Sydney Wanderers, would be a part of premiership winners Melbourne City in having the opening weekend of the finals sequence off.
Adelaide, who began the evening in second spot, dropped to 3rd on the ladder, with the Wanderers ending fourth after dropping 3-2 to first-placed City at AAMI Park.
The Reds, whose late season kind and defensive frailties are an actual explanation for concern heading into the finals sequence, wherein they are going to host both Wellington Phoenix or Perth Glory – barring any shock outcomes or scorelines on Saturday evening – in a sudden-death affair subsequent weekend..
The Wanderers can even host a do-or-die finals match subsequent weekend virtually definitely towards arch-rivals Sydney FC, who’re three factors clear in fifth spot heading into their conflict on Saturday evening towards the Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium.
Adelaide captain Craig Goodwin was pissed off together with his aspect’s “naive” efficiency.
“It’s a bit naive,” Goodwin advised Paramount +.
“We know Central Coast are good on the counter attack and I think all four goals came from positions when we had the chance to attack. Our rest defence was poor.”
The Mariners had been the hungrier of the 2 groups within the first-half and deservedly led 2-0 on the break.
An outstanding counter-attacking transfer culminated within the Mariners taking the lead within the twenty third minute by means of their Brazilian attacker Marcco Tulio.
The Mariners sprung out of their very own half, with a Sam Silvera move discovering Jason Cumming, who in flip laid off the ball first time into the trail of the unmarked Tulio, who confirmed composure to manage the ball earlier than dinking it over oncoming goalkeeper Joe Gauci.
Beni N’Kololo doubled the guests lead within the forty first minute earlier than a chic strike from Tulio within the 57th minute sealed the Mariners’ win.
Central Coast substitute Harrison Steele offered the icing on the cake together with his first A-League objective within the 87th-minute.
Ryan Kitto netted a comfort objective in stoppage-time for the Reds however it was too little, too late on a poor evening for Adelaide.
“We’ll take it as a learning curve. We’re still in the finals, and in the top four,” Goodwin mentioned.
“We know on our day we can beat anyone. We’ve shown that this year. We just have to grind out those little errors and work hard on the training track.
“I said at the beginning of the year I had a good feeling about this group, and we’ve played ourselves into a position where we have a home elimination final and we’ll build on that,”
Mariners hero Tulio was delighted to internet a double.
“I’m very happy to score the two goals but the most important thing was for us to get second spot and the win,” he mentioned by way of a translator.
Originally printed as Marco Tulio stars as Central Coast Mariners thrash Adelaide United to seize second place on the A-League ladder
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
